Dachshund Puppy Breed Facts, Personality, Types & Where to get one

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Introduction to Dachshund Puppy Breed Facts, Personality, Types & Where to get one

The dachshund (pronounced DAK-shunt) is an affectionate dog with a big personality.

They are an old breed, originating from Germany in the 16th century.

Today, dachshunds are found all over the world and come in three different coat types: smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired.

The dachshund personality is one of a kind: they are bold, clever, and courageous, but they are also independent, wary of strangers, and a bit stubborn.

When it comes to training, it can be hard to housetrain since they will hold it in rather than go outside.
Dachshunds are energetic, playful dogs with a lot of personalities.

They are very loyal to their owners and love to have human companionship.

The best way to get a dachshund to bond with you is to train it early.

It is also important to socialize the pup from a young age to prevent it from becoming aggressive.

Although dachshunds were bred to hunt, they are affectionate, docile dogs that are not known to be aggressive.

They are a long-bodied breed of dog.

The miniature and the standard weights range from 8 to 32 pounds, while the kuvasz weighs up to 44 pounds.

Dachshunds are intelligent, playful, and friendly.

They are a loyal and loving companion that is great with kids. Here’s everything you need to know about them…

About The Dachshund

No matter what their size, Dachshunds are a delightful addition to any family, which is why they have ranked near the top of most popular dog lists since the 1950s.

Their cute appearance and lively disposition have inspired many affectionate nicknames for the breed, including wiener dog, hot dog, sausage dog, Doxie, Dashie, and (especially in Germany) Teckels, Dachels, or Dachsels.

You can’t help but smile when you look at a confident Dachshund, proudly carrying his long, muscular body on short legs, his elongated head held high with a bold, intelligent look in his eyes.

Because of their almost comical appearance, Dachshunds have long been a favorite subject of cartoonists and toymakers.

But their cute appearance was developed for far more serious and practical reasons.

Their short legs enable them to dig and maneuver through tunnels to the corner and even fight badgers and other animals, while their large chests give them plenty of “heart” for the fight.

Dachshunds are brave, but they can be somewhat stubborn, and have an independent spirit, especially when hunting.

At home, the Dachshund’s playful nature comes out.

He loves to be close to you and “help” you do things like tying your shoes because of his intelligence, he often has his own ideas about what the rules are when it comes to playtime-and those rules may not be the same as yours or even other breeds of dogs.

Dachshunds are known for being lively and enjoy chasing other small animals, birds, and toys.

The breed standard a written description of how the Dachshund should look and act probably describes their personality best, saying “the Dachshund is clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below groundwork, with all the senses well-developed.

Any display of shyness is a serious fault.”

Dachshunds have soulful eyes and complex facial expressions.

Their lungs are large for a dog this size and they have a barrel-like chest because of these things, Dachshunds have a loud, deep bark that sounds as though it comes from a much larger dog.

And they do like to bark, which is something you might consider if you have neighbors who could be annoyed rather than amused by the antics of your brave little Dachshund.

Dachshunds often bond closely with a single person.

They may even become jealous of their owner’s attention and can become snappy if not properly trained and socialized.

Smooth Dachshunds are the most popular variety in the United States.

Their coats are short and shiny and need little grooming.

They do, however, need a sweater in the winter if you live in an area with cold weather.

Common colors are red, cream, black and tan, black and cream, chocolate and tan, blue and tan, and Isabella (fawn) and tan.

Dachshunds also can have patterns in their coats, such as dapple (a mottled coat pattern), brindle, sable, and piebald.

Longhaired Dachshunds have sleek, slightly wavy hair and can be the same colors as the Smooth Dachshund.

They should be brushed every day to prevent mats from forming, especially around their elbows and ears.

Many believe that the Longhaired Dachshund has a more docile temperament than the Smooth or Wirehair.

Wirehaired Dachshunds have wiry, short, thick, rough coats with bushy eyebrows and a beard.

Like Smooth Dachshunds, they often are mischievous.

They won’t need a sweater in the winter, but they do need to be brushed regularly to prevent mats from forming.

Their coat colors can be the same as the Smooth Dachshund, but the most popular colors in the United States are wild boar (a mixture of black, brown, and gray), black and tan, and various shades of red.

Dachshunds often have been seen as a symbol of Germany because of this association, Dachshunds lost popularity in the United States during World War I and World War II.

However, their appeal was too great for this to resist, and they quickly made a comeback in popularity.

Because of the association with Germany, a Dachshund named Waldi was chosen to be the first official mascot for the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Dachshunds are a good choice for apartment dwellers and people who don’t have a backyard.

They are popular with urban dwellers because of their small size and ease of care.

They generally are active indoors and also enjoy going on walks. Just be careful not to let them get too fat or allow them to injure their backs by jumping off furniture.

Also, be sure to support their backs when you are holding them because of their long backs, they are susceptible to slipped or ruptured (herniated) disks in their backs, which can result in partial or full paralysis.

Although they originally were bred to hunt ferocious badgers and other animals, today’s Dachshunds are ideal family companions.

Additionally, many people show them in conformation, obedience, agility, field trials, and earth dog trials.

They are also hard-working and well-appreciated therapy dogs.

Some people enter their Dachshunds in Dachshund races, such as the Wiener Nationals.

Although these races are popular, the Dachshund Club of America opposes “wiener racing” because many Greyhound tracks use the events to draw large crowds and because the DCA worries that such races could injure Dachshunds’ backs.

Because they are such a popular breed, many people breed Dachshunds to make money rather than out of a love for the breed and a desire to breed healthy, even-tempered dogs.

Be careful to obtain your Dachshund from a reputable breeder who screens his or her breeding animals for both temperament and health problems.

The Dachshund is a versatile companion.

With his variety of sizes, colors, coat types, and personalities, there’s a Dachshund to suit almost anyone.

History

The Dachshund was created in Germany where he was known as the badger dog, dachs meaning badger, and hund meaning dog. Illustrations of dogs resembling Dachshunds date to the 15th century, and documents from the 16th century mention the “earth dog,” “badger creeper,” and “dachsel.”

Badger wasn’t the Dachshund’s only prey. He was also used on den animals such as foxes, and packs of Dachshunds trailed wild boar.

Those early Dachshunds varied greatly in size. The dogs used on badgers and boar weighed 30 to 35 pounds.

Dachshunds used to hunt foxes and deer weighed 16 to 22 pounds, and smaller 12-pound Dachshunds hunted hares and weasels.

For a brief time in the early 20th century, 5-pound Dachshunds were used to bolt cottontail rabbits.

Known as the Teckel in Germany, the breed was refined over the course of many years by German foresters in the 18th and 19th centuries.

They wanted to develop a fearless, elongated dog that could dig into badger burrows, and then go into the burrows to fight the badger to the death if necessary.

The Smooths were the original type, created through crosses with the Braque, a small French pointing breed, and the Pinscher, a small terrier-type ratter.

French Basset Hounds may also have played a role in the Dachshund’s development.

The long-coated Dachshunds were probably created through crosses with various spaniels and the wirehairs through crosses with terriers.

Carefully sculpted through years of breeding, today the Dachshund is the only AKC-recognized breed that hunts both above and below ground.

Their short, powerful legs enabled Dachshunds to go deep into narrow tunnels to pursue their prey. Their long, sturdy tails, extending straight from the spine, provided hunters with a “handle” to pull the Dachshund out of the burrow.

The Dachshund’s unusually large and paddle-shaped paws were perfect for efficient digging.

The Smooth Dachshund’s loose skin wouldn’t tear as the dog traversed into tight burrows.

Their deep chest with ample lung capacity gave them the stamina to hunt, and their long noses enabled them to be good scent hounds.

Even their deep, loud bark had a reason – so the hunter to locate his dog after it had gone into a burrow.

And of course, they had to be bold and tenacious.

Although the original German Dachshunds were larger than the Dachshunds we know today, you can still see the fearlessness for which the breed was developed in even the smallest varieties.

Give your Dachshund a squeaky toy and he’ll likely “kill” it by destroying the squeaker as quickly as possible.

Remember, these dogs were bred not only to hunt prey but kill it as well.

In the 1800s, Dachshunds started being bred more as pets than as hunters, especially in Great Britain.

They were favorites in royal courts all over Europe, including that of Queen Victoria, who was especially fond of the breed.

Due to this trend, their size was gradually reduced by about 10 pounds.

Eventually, an even smaller version – the miniature dachshund – was bred.

A breed standard was written in 1879, and the German Dachshund Club was founded nine years later, in 1888. By 1885, Dachshunds had made it to America, and 11 were registered with the American Kennel Club that year.

The first one was named Dash. The Dachshund Club of America was founded 10 years later, in 1895.

The breed became very popular in the early 1900s, and in 1913 and 1914, they were among the 10 most popular entries in the Westminster Kennel Club Show.

During World War I, however, the breed fell on hard times in the U.S. and England because they were closely associated with Germany.

Dachshund owners sometimes were called traitors and their dogs stoned. After World War I, some U.S. breeders imported some Dachshunds from Germany and the breed started to become popular once again.

The breed faced a similar fate during World War II, but not nearly so severely as during World War I.

In the 1950s, Dachshunds became one of the most popular family dogs in the U.S. again, a status they have enjoyed ever since.

While Dachshunds rarely are used as hunting dogs in the U.S. or Great Britain, in other parts of Europe, especially France, they still are considered hunting dogs.

Today the Dachshund ranks sixth among the 155 breeds and varieties recognized by the AKC.

Size

Dachshunds are bred and shown in two sizes: Standard and Miniature.

Standard Dachshunds of all varieties (Smooth, Wirehair, and Longhair) usually weigh between 16 and 32 pounds.

Miniature Dachshunds of all varieties weigh 11 pounds and under at maturity.

Dachshunds that weigh between 11 and 16 pounds are called Tweenies.

While this isn’t an official classification, Tweenies are not penalized in the show ring.

Some people who breed exceptionally small Dachshunds advertise them as Toy Dachshunds, but this is purely a marketing term, not a recognized

Prominent Personality Traits

Their small size, Dachshunds are known for their daring nature and will sometimes take on dogs or other animals much larger than they are.

Additionally, some Dachshunds may exhibit aggressive behaviors towards strangers or other dogs.

They’re known for being family dogs because they are notably good with children and make excellent watchdogs.

Dachshunds are intelligent creatures and very independent, which can lead to some stubbornness, especially during early training.

This can potentially lead a Dachshund to tear up furniture or go to the bathroom indoors if they are angry with their owners.

Since Dachshunds were bred to be hunters, the modern breed likes to dig, bark, and sniff out the unfamiliar.

Smart & Independent

Dachshunds are known for being very smart creatures.

Because of their intelligence, they will need to be almost constantly engaged with regular canine exercise, training sessions, and playtime.

Dachshunds are a great fit for people who don’t work long hours outside of the home and can provide their pet with the attention they require.

The independent traits of Dachshunds make them very resourceful without the need for much instruction.

However, their independent minds can sometimes clash with their owners which will require patience and persistence when they are a puppy, especially during training sessions.

Loyal

Dachshunds love being in charge which can result in canine aggression towards their owners.

They will need to be thoroughly trained from a young age to prevent this from becoming a problem.

However, once your Dachshund has accepted that you’re the boss, he will be an extremely loyal companion.

The breed is known for “coming to the rescue” of their owners when strangers are present, and they will follow their loved ones around wherever they go.

Playful

As playful and extremely lively animals, Dachshunds like to make a game out of almost anything, even their owners sweeping the floor.

They love to play fetch and will chase after a ball, but the breed is known for not always bringing it back to their owners.

In order to keep them busy, active, and entertained, Dachshunds should be taken on long walks on a regular basis.

Behavioral problems in dogs are often associated with lack of exercise.

Dachshunds are very active animals and can exhibit bad behavior if they’re inside for too long without the opportunity to move around and play.

Stubborn

Dachshunds are known for their stubborn temperament which can be very frustrating for owners when it comes time to train their pet.

Since they were bred to hunt and make decisions on their own, the independent streak creates stubbornness, making them difficult to train.

Training A Dachshund

Training your dog takes lots of firmness, consistency, and patience.

Dogs have the instinct to be in a pack with a leader.

The most important part of training a Dachshund is for them to see you as their leader.

If they don’t see you as being in charge, they may start to show aggressive characteristics.

House training is one of the most crucial parts of training a Dachshund.

Crate training on a consistent basis will help owners effectively house train their dogs.

One way to successfully potty train a dog is to praise them for going to the bathroom outside and ignore them going inside so that they seek out the reward.

It’s important to be consistent with rewards and praise in order to effectively housebreak a Dachshund.

Dachshund owners often get frustrated when they try to teach their dogs something that they have no interest in learning.

Some of them have willful and even manipulative temperaments and must be shown consistently that their owners mean what they say.

The key to training a Dachshund is consistency and a reward system.

As a reward, you may want to give them a treat or let them play with their favorite toy.

Verbal praise also works for positive reinforcement while training a Dachshund puppy.

While praise for good behavior is vital, it’s important to remember that when your dog behaves badly, you should correct him instead of punishing him.

Their hunting instinct makes Dachshunds constantly ready to confront something unknown.

These instincts can trigger explosive barking and outbursts over even the slightest noise or movement in their territory.

The good news is that thorough training of your Dachshund will teach him to quiet down at your command.

Families, Children, & Home Life

Dachshunds are not typically good with strangers and are known for barking at unfamiliar people or animals.

However, since they like being in a pack, they get along with children and do well as family dogs.

They will most certainly let their family know when something is approaching their home, whether it’s a person, animal, or car.

Although Dachshunds make good family pets, owners should be cautious about having them around small children.

Because of their unique body type, the breed may become accidentally injured by children who pick them up incorrectly, or by being tripped over which can lead to an aggressive response.

Furthermore, they don’t get along very well with large dogs and do best in a household as the only dog or with another Dachshund.

They sometimes get snappy with other dogs or may try to dominate them.

Because of their strong drive for prey, Dachshunds should not be taken off-leash unless they’re in a fenced yard.

The breed is known for taking off suddenly if they see something that interests them and may not come back on command.

Dachshunds will do best in homes with a fenced yard so that they aren’t dependent on their owners taking them for a walk to get some exercise.

Since Dachshunds were bred to burrow, the modern breed tends to like to dig which can lead to torn-up grass in your backyard.

Luckily, the digging behavior can be minimized if they aren’t left outside unsupervised for long periods of time. When no one is around to entertain them, their desire to dig spikes.

Is A Dachshund Right For You?

Because they’re such instinctive creatures, owners must be careful when training Dachshunds.

If they think your actions are unfair, they may growl or snap at you.

They were bred to hunt which makes them determined and independent animals.

The right owner will be consistent with training and use positive reinforcement to reward good behavior.

Dachshunds love treats, so in order to train them quickly and effectively, a small food reward is best.

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that training won’t happen overnight.

Each dog will be different, and learning new habits can take weeks or even months.

Consider all the personality traits and training requirements of a Dachshund in order to decide whether it’s the right breed for you.

Although these traits are common for most Dachshunds, remember that no two dogs are the same, and yours will have his own unique temperament.

If you decide to adopt one and are prepared to put in the work, a Dachshund will repay you with years of loyalty and companionship.